About Carson | Carson Chamber

About our City

Almost 200 years after the founding of Rancho San Pedro, 142 years after the Dominguez Adobe was built, and 58 years following the Great Air Meet of 1910, the citizens of the land “to the west of the Los Angeles River” finally took a long overdue step toward independence.

After suffering decades of neglect as an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County, the citizens went to the polls on Tuesday, February 6, 1968 to vote on whether to officially incorporate their community as an independent city.

Almost 10,000 of the 17,351 registered voters in Carson cast a vote on that February 1968 morning. When the ballots were counted, the vote was 6,301 to 3,834 in favor of incorporation.

But there was one other issue for the voters to decide. What would be the name of their new city? Voters were offered two choices: Carson and Dominguez, the two leading family names in the history of Rancho San Pedro. By a narrow vote of just 318 votes, the citizens chose the name Carson.

Throughout the year, the temperature in Carson varies between a low of 47°F and a high of 79°F. The city also experiences an annual precipitation of 13 inches.

City Facts:

Land Area: 18.72 square miles

Number of Households 26,084

Average household size 3.56

People Educational Attainment Labor Force Household Income Housing & Living Transportation Schools in Carson City Government

Labor Force, Employment by Industries, Occupations

City Council

Carson maintains a council-manager form of government so that the city council shall establish the policies of the City, and the city manager shall administer the government of the City in accordance with such policies. The elective officers of the City shall consist of four city council members, one directly elected mayor, a city clerk, and a city treasurer. The members of the city council and the mayor shall be elected by the voters from the City at large . The duties of the Mayor include: presiding over the City Council meetings, signing agreements, and appointing commissioners and committee members with Council. As elected representatives of its citizens, the City Council develops and establishes ordinances and policies in the best interest of the City. The Council acts as a part-time “board of directors,” appointing a City Manager to conduct the City’s day-to-day affairs. Citizen commissions advise the Council on planning, youth and family issues, youth sports activities, and senior affairs. There shall be a city treasurer who shall be elected from the City at large. The City Treasurer assists the Finance Director in financial management, ensuring compliance with state laws regarding the handling, deposit, and security of public funds. Responsibilities include safeguarding city funds, overseeing disbursements, preparing financial reports, and cooperating in annual audits. Additionally, the Treasurer chairs the Investment Committee, ensuring that investments align with city policies and financial needs while reporting regularly to the City Council. There shall be a city clerk who shall be elected from the City at large. The City Clerk attends and records City Council meetings, maintains official records, manages municipal codes, and ensures transparency under the California Public Records Act. The Clerk is also responsible for attesting signatures, serving as the City’s agent for service of process, administering oaths, overseeing City elections, and conducting bid openings for public works projects.

The City Council Meets the first and third Mondays, 5:00 p.m.

Lula Davis-Holmes, Mayor

Jawane Hilton, District 1 Mayor Pro Tem

Jim Dear, District 2 Council Member

Cedric Hicks, District 3 Council Member

Arleen Bocatija Rojas, District 4 Council Member

Dr. Khaleah Bradshaw, City Clerk

Monica Cooper, City Treasurer

City Hall
701 E Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745
(310) 830-7600
Hours: Monday – Thursday 700 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Closed Fridays

24-hour automated (310) 952-1700

Most of Carson is served by the Los Angeles Unified School District. A portion of Carson is in the Compton Unified School District.

High schools serving LAUSD portions of Carson include Carson High School in Carson, Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School in Long Beach, and Banning High School in the Wilmington area of Los Angeles. The area is within Board District 8.